Starrcade '83: The show that almost wasn't

By STEVEN JOHNSON -- SLAM! Wrestling

CHARLOTTE--Starrcade '83 is remembered as a seminal event in wrestling history, the mega-show that launched Ric Flair's second run as National Wrestling Alliance world champion.
Had it not been for Harley Race's principled resistance to the entreaties of Vince McMahon and his World Wrestling Federation, though, Starrcade '83 might be a trivial footnote in the annals of the sport.

Race-Sammartino 'debate' proves a consensus

By STEPHEN DEAN JOHNSON --
SLAM! Wrestling

The term "living legend" is one of the most over-used clichés in professional sports. Harley Race and Bruno Sammartino are two rare individuals who actually live up to the billing. Kayfabe Commentaries has brought both men together for the DVD, The Great Debate 08: Race-Sammartino.

Harley Race still going strong

By MATT JOHNSON --
SLAM! Wrestling

Just 48 years after his first match, Harley Race is still a major player in professional wrestling. The legendary former NWA World Heavyweight Champion is busy running the Harley Race Wrestling Academy in Eldon, Missouri. Recently the academy was in the news when it was announced that Reid Flair was going to train there, joining other second generation wrestlers Amy Hennig and Ricky Steamboat, Jr.

Race enters Tragos/Thesz Hall

NEWTON, Iowa - On a steamy hot day, with too many people stuffed into a tiny room dominated by a pint-sized wrestling ring, the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame grew by six members Saturday.

Harley's book way too short

There's really no other way to put this. Despite my thorough enjoyment from front to back of King of the Ring: The Harley Race Story, I came away at the end disappointed. The lifestory of the eight-time world champion Race deserved far more than 200 pages.

Race's story deliberately not racy

The stories of Harley Race's exploits, particularly behind the wheel or with a gun, are common fodder at old-school bull sessions. Yet, readers of King Of The Ring: The Harley Race Story, won't find bawdy tales of excess and foolishness on the road. It's very much a PG book on purpose.

World champs still reign supreme at fanfest

PRINCETON, NJ - Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. If the testimony of four former world heavyweight wrestling champions is any indication, the body is not very steady, either.
A quartet of immortals came together Saturday as Bruno Sammartino, Bob Backlund, Harley Race, and Nick Bockwinkel brought a combined 30-plus years of championship reigns to a wrestling reunion in suburban New Jersey.

Wrestling world pays tribute to Race

The wrestling world is paying tribute to the real master of the suplex, Harley Race. The "King" will be inducted to both the WWE Hall of Fame and the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum this year. Race is excited about both honours.

Bret Hart's Sharpshooter

Harley is the king of the ring

By BRET HART -- SLAM! Wrestling

The first time I met Harley Race was back in '72 when he came up to work the big Stampede week supercard for my dad.
I was 15 and Harley was NWA World Heavyweight Champion.
She was a rose among thorns in the gruff world of wrestling.

Read our Harley Race transcript

The legendary Harley Race joined SLAM! Wrestling on Tuesday to talk about his career.
Read the transcript of the chat to find out who he would like to wrestle on the current WWF roster, who his toughest opponents were, what it was really like to be The King, and why you shouldn't play ribs on him.

Harley longs to be back in the Race

CHERRY HILL, NJ -- When baseball's Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were chasing
home run records, every announcer talked about the history -- namely that
they were following Roger Maris and Babe Ruth.
Wrestling rarely gives their predecessors the same respect.
And yet talking to seven-time NWA World Champion Harley Race demands
respect.
"I don't see a celebration too much in any sport of any older people," said
Race at the NWA 50th Anniversary convention, where he sold T-shirts with
wife B.J. and was honoured at the banquet. "Once that TV flashes off on your
career, and you're not on there on a day to day basis, it doesn't take too
long for people to forget who you are."